Aztec Gold

by Caridad Piñeiro

  Much like her parents had probably not expected to lose theirs.

  In retrospect, all those months without Rafe had shown her that living without love was merely existing. If there was one thing she had known about her parents, it was that they had loved each other and her intensely during the short span of their lives.

  She wasn’t about to let the demon steal away both Rafe and that newfound knowledge.

  Clutching the real obsidian blade tightly in her hand, she focused on the now and waited for Eztli Etalpalli. Her hands were wet and stuck to what remained of the leather wrapping on the handle of the dagger. Where her skin met the smoother stone beneath, the obsidian had been cold to the touch at first, but the heat of her body had warmed the stone until it had almost become part of her hand.

  Just thermodynamics or something mystical? she wondered, worried about how she was changing as well.

  She released the dagger for only a moment, then reestablished her grip on the handle. When she struck with it, her hand had to be steady and sure. They wouldn’t have a second chance to be that close to the demon.

  The ground trembled beneath her feet, warning her that the time for action was near.

  Another scrape of stone came from down the hallway as the demon’s bony wings dragged against the walls and then deadly silence followed.

  She held her breath, anticipating the moment. Murmuring a short prayer.

  The silence evaporated with a howl from the demon as she flew into the room and landed with a thundering thud on the dirt floor. Silence followed once more, but then came a sniff and a rattle from deep in the monster’s throat, like the sound of a cicada in the summer heat.

  Cynthia wanted to peer past the backpacks and see the demon but knew she couldn’t let curiosity get the better of her. Surprise was a key element of their plan. She couldn’t give herself away too quickly if they were to succeed in defeating the demi-goddess.

  Another low long rattle filled the quiet of the room and was followed by the noisy footsteps of Eztli Etalpalli as she stepped further into the space.

  Her steps were slow. Guarded.

  Cynthia sensed the monster was being cautious. The demon knew they possessed the obsidian dagger—the one thing that had been able to hurt her.

  She held her breath, waiting. Listening. Attuned to every noise in the room so that she would know where the demon stood. Know when to make her appearance.

  Another footstep sounded. Closer. Uncertain. But then a second step came, faster than the first. Followed by a quick third.

  Cynthia could discern from the sound and vibration beneath her feet that Eztli Etalpalli was now near the edge of the room, directly before Rafe as he slumped by the wall, but also immediately across from where she hid beneath the backpacks and tucked far to the back edge of the stone table.

  She needed the demon to be well beyond her position. She needed the demon’s back to her so that she could emerge from her hiding spot and strike her blow.

  The next footstep that came was closer to her instead of moving in Rafe’s direction.

  So not good, she thought, holding her breath. Steeling even her heartbeat to remain motionless as yet another small quake traveled along the ground and communicated that the demon was headed her way.

  The rattle sounded again, away from Rafe. Closer to her.

  Even with her fear, the scientist within wondered if it was some kind of sonar to help the demon identify the location of her prey. When the noise came the next time, it seemed as if it was almost right on top of Cynthia’s hiding spot. As she took a slow and measured breath, the stench of blood and rot emanating from the demon’s body filled her nostrils.

  Eztli Etalpalli paused beside the mound of the backpacks.

  A sniff and another rattle from deep within her throat erupted so near that Cynthia almost jumped with surprise. But then she heard Rafe’s low groan.

  The demon stilled above her for a moment and then moved toward Rafe’s position, enticed by his ploy.

  Eztli Etalpalli’s steps were quicker and less measured, making Cynthia hope that their ruse had worked. That the demon would expose some weakness.

  As another footstep sounded, farther away, Cynthia finally peered through a tiny gap in the mound of backpacks covering the overturned stone table.

  Eztli Etalpalli stood about a yard away from Rafe, who remained in his slumped position on the ground. The demon seemed to be considering his condition. She tentatively reached out with her foot and kicked Rafe’s like she might test the tire of a car.

  Rafe remained virtually immobile. Not even a small twitch shifted over his body to ruin his deception. Only his shallow regular breaths provided any indication that life remained in his body.

  Cynthia admired his fortitude, uncertain she could do the same.

  At Rafe’s lack of reaction, the demon picked up her arms and spread her wings wide. She emitted a high, ear-piercing screech as if to celebrate her presumed victory.

  The position was just the one for which they had been hoping. With her wings spread wide, the demi-goddess’s back became exposed to attack.

  It was time.

  Cynthia pushed off the backpacks while leaping over the edge of the table. She immediately rushed Eztli Etalpalli, the dagger held high overhead in both hands.

  Sensing Cynthia’s approach, the demon glanced back over her shoulder, but it was too late.

  Cynthia launched herself at the demon at the same time that Rafe rolled to his side and scooped up the transformed metal dagger.

  She leapt upward and plunged the knife high up into Eztli Etalpalli’s back, using the weight of her fall to drive the blade even deeper, through thick skin and muscle.

  The demon roared with pain and twisted her body violently, throwing Cynthia off with an immense shake of her wings.

  Cynthia landed roughly against the floor, the air driven from her lungs by the force of the impact. As she slowly rolled onto her hands and knees, she realized the demon was reaching behind her back with her arms, trying to pull out the blade.

  Rafe took advantage of that new opening in Eztli Etalpalli’s defenses.

  He charged the monster and sank the transformed blade deep into the demon’s chest, directly opposite where Cynthia had struck her dagger home.

  The demon stilled and then staggered, rocking from side to side on those dangerous clawed feet.

  Rafe quickly rolled away from the demon and raced to Cyn’s side.

  They waited, vigilant as the demon stared down at the blade in her chest with clear disbelief. Her wings drooped down and she unsteadily reached for the blade in her chest with her taloned hands as she wavered on her feet. Over and over she attempted to grasp the slick handle of the knife, tearing at her own flesh until she slowly crumpled to her knees.

  A pitiful keening sound escaped her lips a second before she tumbled backward, seemingly in slow motion.

  When the demon landed on her back, the force of her fall drove Cynthia’s gold obsidian blade completely through her body.

  Totally impaling her heart and delivering the final fatal blow.

  Only darkness as black as her own can deliver the killing strike, Cynthia thought, and in the space of the heartbeat that followed, the demon’s body exploded into a mushroom cloud of dust. The particles stayed suspended in the air for a moment in time before settling into a thin layer of brown grit on everything within a few feet of where her body had rested just seconds earlier.

  “Dios mío,” she whispered beneath her breath, but then Rafe took her into his arms and pulled her tight. Gratefully whispered against the side of her face, “We did it.”

  We did, she thought, but her joy at the victory was tempered by too many conflicting emotions and worries. As Rafe shifted back to look at her face, he realized it as well.

  “Let’s go find Dani and David,” he said and released her. Grabbing his lantern, he led the way from the steam bath and back to the anteroom where they had first entered the temple. He held
the lantern upward and illuminated the hall, revealing the demon’s tracks in the dirt floor.

  They hurried down the passage from which the demon had emerged, assuming that Dani and David would be hidden somewhere deep in her lair. About ten feet into the passage, they found that the hall branched into two tunnels that led deeper into the temple. There were demon tracks down both tunnels, forcing them to make a choice.

  At the fork, she glanced at him, wondering if they should separate to explore, and he said, “We’re stronger together than we are apart.”

  With a bittersweet smile, she agreed and followed him down the one fork, but even as she did so, she considered that so many things were different now. He wasn’t who he used to be and neither was she. This adventure had forced them together, but in the cold reality of their normal world, she feared where their lives would lead them.

  Whether it would be together or apart.

  Those thoughts hounded her down the long hall, which seemed almost interminable given their desire to find Dani and David.

  At the end of the tunnel they encountered a thick wooden door, barred from the outside this time. Rafe easily removed the wooden beam that kept the portal secure and nearly ripped the door from its hinges in his haste to enter.

  He rushed in and she followed.

  Dani sat against the far wall, apparently unharmed. She cradled Rafe’s brother in her arms, and where David’s arms and legs were visible, it was clear to see he was painfully thin and pale. Almost bloodless. His body was bruised and battered, but as he stirred at their entrance, relief came that he was still alive.

  Rafe took a hesitant step toward Dani and his brother, almost as if unable to believe what he was seeing, but then he rushed over, knelt and embraced David, their dark heads nestled together.

  Dani rose shakily, using the wall behind her for balance as she gave the two brothers some space for their reunion.

  Cynthia approached her friend, grateful that Dani was still alive. When she finally stood before Dani and sensed the vitality coming from her, she embraced her friend in a heartfelt hug.

  “I knew you would make it here in time,” Dani said against the side of Cynthia’s face as she held her friend tightly.

  “I wasn’t so certain,” she said, and as they stepped apart, she realized Rafe had picked up his brother in his arms. David lay there limply, but as his gaze met Cynthia’s, he offered up a weak smile.

  “Good to see you again,” he said, his voice frail and hoarse.

  She walked over and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder as Rafe cradled him, almost like a baby. “It’s good to see you also, David.”

  Glancing up at Rafe, she detected the relief in his eyes, and with a dip of his head he walked away and made the long trip back to the steam bath where they got David settled comfortably.

  “I’ll get a fire started outside so we can heat some water. Get some grub going,” Rafe said after shooting a look up at the partially covered hole in the steam bath’s roof and apparently deciding it wouldn’t allow enough smoke to exit.

  Cynthia placed a hand on his arm as he reached for supplies from his backpack. “Dani and I will do it. You need some time with your brother.”

  He didn’t argue, and she and Dani scooped up what they would need and headed out of the temple. It was almost morning, she realized with surprise. Only a dozen or so hours had passed yet so much had happened in the space of one short night.

  Efficiently, quickly and almost silently, they got the fire going and heated water from their canteens in a cooking pot.

  Before the water got too hot, Cynthia returned some to a small bowl so Rafe could use it to clean his brother’s injuries. When she went to head back into the temple, Dani stopped her.

  “I’ll take it. I want to see how David is doing.”

  She nodded and understood that in short time Dani and David had spent together, circumstances may have created some sort of bond as her friend had cared for the injured man. There would be time enough for her to talk to her about it when they got home.

  Home.

  Could it ever be the same back home after all that had happened in the brief space of just a few days? Could she ever be the same with all that she had learned about herself and Rafe?

  Those thoughts occupied her mind as she prepared the food, adding a dried meal packet of beef stew to the remaining water. After she finished emptying the packet into the pot and had given it a stir, Rafe emerged from the temple. She rose and met him as he walked to her side.

  “How is he?” she asked, laying her hand on his arm to try and stay connected with him.

  “Shaken. Weak. Apparently Eztli Etalpalli had planned on finishing him off soon, which is why she grabbed Dani.” He jammed his hands into the pockets of his pants and rocked back and forth on his heels, clearly uncomfortable.

  She rubbed her hand up and down his forearm, trying to offer comfort. “He’ll be fine.”

  “Will he? Will any of us ever be fine again?”

  A muscle jumped along the straight line of his jaw and she reached up, stroked his face. “We will deal with this.”

  He nodded, but the faraway look in his topaz gaze told her that he believed otherwise.

  Awkwardly they finished prepping the meal with Cynthia improvising some dumplings from another mix. She added water to the packet and shaped the dough into a rough circle that she laid on the simmering stew. Covering the pan, she hoped there would be enough steam to cook the dough. A short time later, she opened lid and smiled as she saw it had worked. With Rafe’s help, she spooned the finished dumplings into bowls and ladled the thick stew over them.

  Dani had helped David clean up a bit and he was ensconced in one of their sleeping bags, his bare chest giving testament to his ordeal. His ribs were sharp ridges in his sides and his previously muscular body lacked any tone. Dark bruises and scratches were scattered across his torso and arms.

  As he saw Cynthia enter, he favored her with a stronger smile and there was no denying his resemblance to his older brother. The grin was the same, as was the gleam in his golden eyes, which had a touch more green than Rafe’s.

  Dani helped David sit up and lean against Rafe’s backpack for support.

  When Cynthia handed him the bowl, his stomach growled noisily, dragging chuckles from all of them.

  They sat together to eat, although conversation was minimal. Part of it was hunger. A small part of it.

  David quickly finished his bowl and Dani handed over what was left in hers. At his questioning glance she said, “I’m full.”

  He didn’t hesitate to take it or the rest of what Cynthia and Rafe offered up as well.

  By the time David finished, he was rubbing his belly, which looked like it had a slight bulge that had not been there before. “Dios, it feels good to finally eat something normal. Whoever said bugs are protein needs their head examined.”

  David’s comment and boyish grin pulled a chuckle from even his brother, who had remained troubled despite their victory over the demon.

  “I guess you’ll forgo the chocolate-covered crickets I picked up in Mexico City?” Dani teased.

  “You’re kidding, right? Chocolate-covered crickets?” David nudged her with an elbow and she blushed, demurely dipped her head and laughed.

  “Just kidding. Unless Cynthia secreted some chocolate in her backpack?”

  “Sorry, but I didn’t risk it in this heat,” she said.

  “You’re SOL, David,” Dani teased yet again, pulling yet another smile from Rafe’s brother.

  The moment of camaraderie was short-lived, however, as Rafe said, “We should clean up and get some rest. We’ll have a lot to do later.”

  “Sure thing. I’ll help David get settled for the night,” Dani said and it was clear she planned on staying with David, concern still evident in her gaze.

  Which left Rafe and Cynthia to finish cleaning.

  They were silent as they gathered up the dishes and returned outside where they sparing
ly used their water to wash up. The silence lingered, pregnant with anxious thoughts, as they returned to sharing the remaining sleeping bag. They set it up across the way from Dani and David, but rest didn’t come easily.

  Rafe’s body was tight against hers. Tense from the events of the last twenty-four hours and possibly with the awareness that only uncertainty awaited them once they returned home.

  She didn’t recollect when the tension faded and she fell asleep. Nor when Rafe left her side. She only knew one thing the next morning.

  She woke up alone.

  Chapter Ten

  Rafe knelt before the ashes of what remained of Eztli Etalpalli, still in disbelief about all that had happened, but the images in his brain of his dead friends and of his brother’s almost skeletal body reminded him that it hadn’t been just a nightmare.

  It had all been too real.

  He bowed his head low, begging God for peace for all She had taken from this life and promising to make things right for the families of the men who had been killed.

  For starters, he would have to go to the authorities and attempt to explain how his men had been killed. Then he would arrange for all of the bodies of his team members to go home.

  Home, he thought, wondering where that was for him now, but then the answer came immediately.

  Home was with Cyn.

  But with Eztli Etalpalli gone, Cyn and the rest of her team could proceed with their exploration of the temple.

  Once he had returned to the village, he would have a different path to follow. One that would take him away from her.

  A footstep sounded behind him and he jumped up and whirled, still in overdrive from the events of the day before.

  Cyn.

  Standing at the door, her stance hesitant. Wary. Did she now finally comprehend the way that he did? That he might no longer belong in the world that they had once shared. That when this adventure was over, they might head in different directions.

  As the light in her eyes darkened, he realized she understood without his even speaking. “You’re not coming with us.”

  A statement, not a question.